Sirach 33

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 No evils will befall one who fears the Lord. Instead, God will preserve him during temptation and will free him from evils.	1 No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord, but in trial he will deliver him again and again.
2 A wise man does not hate the commandments and the justices, and so he will not be thrown about violently, like a ship in a storm.	2 A wise man will not hate the law, but he who is hypocritical about it is like a boat in a storm.
3 A man of understanding puts his faith in the law of God, and so the law is faithful to him.	3 A man of understanding will trust in the law; for him the law is as dependable as an inquiry by means of Urim.
4 Whoever would resolve a dispute will prepare a word, and so, having prayed, he will be heard. And he will observe discipline, and then he will respond.	4 Prepare what to say, and thus you will be heard; bind together your instruction, and make your answer.
5 The heart of a fool is like the wheel of a cart. And his thoughts are like a turning axel.	5 The heart of a fool is like a cart wheel, and his thoughts like a turning axle.
6 A friend who is a whisperer is like an untamed horse: he neighs under anyone who sits upon him.	6 A stallion is like a mocking friend; he neighs under every one who sits on him.
7 Why does day follow after day, and light follow after light, and year follow after year, in accord with the sun?	7 Why is any day better than another, when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?
8 By the knowledge of the Lord, they were arranged, after the sun was made, in keeping with his command.	8 By the Lord's decision they were distinguished, and he appointed the different seasons and feasts;
9 And so, the seasons changed, with their feast days. And according to them, they celebrated the feast days, in their hour.	9 some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he made ordinary days.
10 Some of them, God exalted and magnified. And some of them, he set amid the ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, and from the earth, from which Adam was created.	10 All men are from the ground, and Adam was created of the dust.
11 With a mulititude of disciplines, the Lord has distinguished them and diversified their ways.	11 In the fulness of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them and appointed their different ways;
12 Some of them, he has blessed and exalted. And some of them he has sanctified and placed close to himself. And some of them, he has cursed and brought low, and he has turned them from their station.	12 some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself; but some of them he cursed and brought low, and he turned them out of their place.
13 Just as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so as to form and to shape it,	13 As clay in the hand of the potter-- for all his ways are as he pleases-- so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give them as he decides.
14 so are all his ways in accord with his dispensation, and so is man in the hand of the One who made him. And he will repay him according to his judgment.	14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly.
15 Good is against evil, and life is against death; so also is a sinner against a just man. And so should you consider all the works of the Most High: two and two, and one against another.	15 Look upon all the works of the Most High; they likewise are in pairs, one the opposite of the other.
16 And I awakened at the very end, and I was like one who gathers grapes after the grape-gatherers.	16 I was the last on watch; I was like one who gleans after the grape-gatherers; by the blessing of the Lord I excelled, and like a grape-gatherer I filled my wine press.
17 I, too, have hoped in the blessing of God. And I have filled the winepress like one who gathers grapes.	17 Consider that I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who seek instruction.
18 Consider how I have not labored for myself alone, but for all who are seeking discipline.	18 Hear me, you who are great among the people, and you leaders of the congregation, hearken.
19 Listen to me, you great ones, with all the peoples. And incline your ears, you rulers of the Church.	19 To son or wife, to brother or friend, do not give power over yourself, as long as you live; and do not give your property to another, lest you change your mind and must ask for it.
20 You should not give authority over yourself to a son or wife, to a brother or friend, in your life. And you should not give your estate to another, lest perhaps you may regret it, and then you would be begging for the same.	20 While you are still alive and have breath in you, do not let any one take your place.
21 While you are still living and breathing, let no one among all flesh change you.	21 For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of you sons.
22 For it is better if your children petition you, than if you look toward the hands of your children.	22 Excel in all that you do; bring no stain upon your honor.
23 In all your works, be pre-eminent.	23 At the time when you end the days of your life, in the hour of death, distribute your inheritance.
24 You should not allow a blemish upon your glory. On the day of the consummation of the days of your life, at the time of your passing, distribute your inheritance.	24 Fodder and a stick and burdens for an ass; bread and discipline and work for a servant.
25 Fodder and a rod and a burden are for a donkey; bread and discipline and work are for a servant.	25 Set your slave to work, and you will find rest; leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty.
26 He works under discipline, and he seeks rest. Allow his hands to be idle, and he seeks liberty.	26 Yoke and thong will bow the neck, and for a wicked servant there are racks and tortures.
27 The yoke and the strap bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bend a servant.	27 Put him to work, that he may not be idle, for idleness teaches much evil.
28 Torture and chains are for a malevolent servant; send him to work, so that he may not be idle.	28 Set him to work, as is fitting for him, and if he does not obey, make his fetters heavy.
29 For idleness has taught much evil.	29 Do not act immoderately toward anybody, and do nothing without discretion.
30 Appoint him to a task. For this is fitting for him. And if he will not be obedient, bend him with chains. But you should do no more than any flesh can bear. Truly, you should do nothing grievous without judgment.	30 If you have a servant, let him be as yourself, because you have bought him with blood.
31 If you have a faithful servant, let him be to you like your own soul. Treat him like a brother. For you have obtained him by the blood of your soul.	31 If you have a servant, treat him as a brother, for as your own soul you will need him. If you ill-treat him, and he leaves and runs away, which way will you go to seek him?
32 If you harm him unjustly, he will turn away and flee.
33 And then, when he lifts himself up and departs, you will not know whom to ask, or in what way to seek him.